“Nobody wants to be moaning Myrtle to their friends and family constantly complaining,” says Bethanne Patrick, as she describes her life living with the rarely-heard condition “double depression.” It’s hardly a secret that January can be the most depressing month of the year. The festivities of Christmas are in the rear mirror, the days are dark and cold (in a lot of places), and the prospect of setting up for the rest of year can be daunting. But add another layer of mental illness, and everyday becomes like an extreme version of ‘Blue Monday.’ Patrick, who is a prominent figure in the publishing industry and author of “Life B: Overcoming Double Depression,” shared her profound experiences and insights on the often-misunderstood condition with How To Be Books.
Known for her influential online presence as @TheBookMaven and her work across prestigious publications, she delved into the complexities of this mental health challenge, illuminating its nuances and challenges to those who are not familiar with it.
Disclaimer: please seek advice from your health professional in regards to diagnosis and treatment.
What is double depression?
Patrick began by stressing the importance of professional medical advice, clarifying that her book, while informative, is not a substitute for professional treatment. She described double depression as a phenomenon often occurring in individuals with a family history of bipolar disorder.
She explained, “double depression happens when a person who has a close relative with bipolar, severe bipolar syndrome, something happens genetically, and I guess the bipolar mutates into just depression.” This condition involves a baseline of chronic depression that exacerbates into major depression during stressful periods. Patrick’s personal journey, marked by recurring episodes of depression, led her psychiatrist to recommend lifelong medication.
The effects of double depression
Describing her personal struggle with double depression, Patrick highlighted the profound loneliness accompanying this condition. The Missing Pages podcast host related her experiences with the ineffectiveness of conventional coping strategies and the isolation felt when these strategies failed. Patrick poignantly noted, “It was so lonely because nobody wants to be, who’s the moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter movies? Nobody wants to be moaning Myrtle to their friends and family constantly complaining, constantly saying, I’m sad, I’m sad, I’m sad.”
The constant struggle and inability to find relief from conventional advice like “taking a walk” or “getting fresh air” contributed to a sense of isolation. The condition, she stressed, is indifferent to one’s life circumstances, affecting individuals regardless of their privilege or achievements.
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The book critic also touched upon the concept of intergenerational trauma, both in terms of environmental factors and genetic inheritance. She discussed the role of epigenetics, explaining, “What happens to our ancestors can be encoded in our DNA.” This aspect adds another layer of complexity to understanding and treating double depression.
“These were people who could have been very close to me, my aunt, my uncle, their children, and, for her own, and I think, very good reasons, my mother wanted to keep her children at arm’s length from people who were having really tough lives […] And she was trying so hard to give us the best shot at a future. But, that breaks families apart.”
Bethanne Patrick
She shed light on the impact of family dynamics and ancestral history on mental health. She shared personal anecdotes about the distance she felt from her mother’s family and how her mother’s protective instincts, while well-intentioned, led to a sense of disconnection.
Patrick, who sits on the PEN/Faulkner Foundation board, candidly discussed her personal struggles with cognitive distortions, a common phenomenon in mental illness. She recalled a particularly challenging holiday season, saying, “I will never forget the year that not one single gift at the holidays got wrapped…The magical thinking was, it’s all taken care of, it’s all fine.” This example highlighted how mental illness can distort perception and interfere with daily functioning.
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Addressing the widespread misconceptions about depression, Patrick discussed the importance of therapy and medication in managing the condition. She underlines the goal of therapy: to reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of depressive episodes.
“That is, how we fall into the cognitive distortions, right? Because there’s no one to help us see what our barometer is.”
Bethanne Patrick
The author stressed the importance of recognising comorbidities in mental health conditions. Discussing her own experience with ADHD diagnosed in adulthood, Patrick noted, “The comorbidities aren’t just depression and ADHD. It can be…OCD, bipolar syndrome along with schizoaffective disorder, personality disorders along with mental chemical, mental illness.” Understanding these overlapping conditions is crucial for effective treatment and management.
Discussing the broader impacts of mental illness, Patrick pointed out, “Anytime pain goes on for a long time, it affects your personality and behaviour.” She reiterated the need for more comprehensive pain management options that go beyond traditional medication, reflecting on the experiences of those she knew with long-term illnesses and the limited pain relief options available to them.
High functioning and feminism
Patrick underscored that double depression often goes unrecognised, especially in high-functioning individuals, a group predominantly comprising of women. “Depression is a feminist issue,” Patrick stated, highlighting the significant emotional labour women bear in households. This emotional labour, often intangible and overlooked, contributes to the complexity of managing mental illness while maintaining daily responsibilities.
“It’s not that we’re all trying to be perfect… We want other people to know that we care about them,” she stated, underlining the high-functioning nature of many women who battle depression.
“What I didn’t know when I was high functioning is that there’s another state. Like, I didn’t even know you could be healthy. And that’s the thing. You can get beyond high functioning to being healthy.”
Bethanne Patrick
Expanding on the theme, Patrick shared, “My wonderful husband of decades is fantastic now, about all kinds of housework. But when it comes to emotional labour, which is more intangible, anytime something’s intangible and harder to describe…I do think it’s harder for them to see.” This discrepancy often results in women being the primary bearers of maintaining familial and social connections, adding to their mental burden.
Patrick concluded with a message of hope, describing her journey to a state of health and stability. She emphasised the importance of creating personal benchmarks and understanding one’s mental health state, which can guide individuals towards better coping mechanisms and a fuller, more content life.
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Hence the publishing industry stalwart not only enlightens us on the complexities of double depression but also offers a glimmer of hope for those silently battling this condition. Her insights accentuate the significance of understanding, empathy, and professional guidance in navigating the complex topography of mental health.
Check out Patrick’s investigative and Signal Award-winning podcast Missing Pages, part of the Podglomerate network, which uncovers elements of the sometimes-secretive world of book publishing.
[…] Listen: Bethanne Patrick on double depression amid January blues […]